San José is one of Central America’s most vibrant capitals. This city offers you a unique opportunity to experience the spirit of Costa Rica. Known locally as “Chepe,” the city is situated in a broad valley surrounded by the Cordillera Central mountains. The climate here is mild year-round.
The heart of the city is Plaza de la Cultura. As you step into this spacious pedestrian plaza, you’ll see the Teatro Nacional, which opened in 1897, on your left. Inspired by the Paris Opera House, this neoclassical building is a source of cultural pride for Costa Rica. Step inside, climb the marble stairs, and enjoy a Costa Rican coffee beneath the ceiling frescoes. The Museo del Oro Precolombino houses over 1,600 gold artifacts.
Walk two blocks north and you’ll reach the Mercado Central. Open since 1880, this labyrinthine market is filled with spices, tropical fruits, flowers, and local coffees. Sit down at a small family-run restaurant here and order a casado. This dish is served with rice, black beans, plantains, and salad all on the same plate. You can find this dish in every corner of the country.
There is a butterfly garden in the courtyard of the National Museum. The moment you step into this building, you’ll feel as though you’ve entered another world. San José serves as a gateway to Arenal Volcano, Poás Volcano, the Monteverde Cloud Forest, and the Pacific beaches.
Juan Santamaría International Airport is located in Alajuela Province. This airport is 20 km from downtown San José and 2 km from downtown Alajuela. The drive from the airport to San José takes 25-35 minutes.
Juan Santamaría Airport is Costa Rica’s busiest airport. Approximately 7 million passengers use this airport each year. Direct flights are available from Juan Santamaría Airport to destinations such as Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Toronto, and Madrid. It is also one of Central America’s busiest transit hubs.
You can reach the city center from Juan Santamaría International Airport by bus or taxi. Grupo TUASA’s Linea Verde buses operate from the bus stop in front of the airport to San José and Alajuela. The buses run from 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM. To reach the bus stop, exit through the Arrivals exit, turn left, pass the line of taxis, and turn right at the first intersection. The bus stop is approximately 200 meters past the terminal. Station Wagon’s yellow-orange buses also operate 24 hours a day to the city center. Taxi stands are immediately to the right of the Arrivals exit.
Interactive Juan Santamaría Airport Map
Juan Santamaría Airport Terminal
Juan Santamaría Airport has two separate terminals: the International Terminal and the Domestic Terminal. The Domestic Terminal is located just outside the Main Terminal. The Domestic Terminal is approximately 400 meters from the Main Terminal. To transfer between the two terminals, you must exit the terminal building.
The ground floor of the Main Terminal is the Arrivals area. After disembarking the plane, you will go through passport control. The immigration offices are located in a wide, open corridor. From there, proceed to the baggage claim carousels. Follow the screens to locate the carousels labeled with the letters A and B based on your flight number. Immediately after passing through customs, you will see the car rental offices on your left as you enter the Arrivals hall.
The second floor of the Main Terminal is reserved for departing passengers. Enter through the terminal’s main entrance and proceed to the ground floor where the check-in counters are located. After check-in and baggage drop-off, proceed to the security checkpoint. The security checkpoint is on the second floor, directly in front of the gate corridor. After passing through security, proceed to passport control. Inside the terminal, there are duty-free shops, souvenir stores, Café Britt, and fast-food restaurants. The gates are divided into three sections: A1-A12, B1-B15, and C1-C8.
There is a separate terminal for domestic flights. Exit the Main Terminal through the Arrivals exit, turn left, and follow the signs for about 400 meters. This terminal is a simple, small structure. Check-in, security, and gates are all on a single floor.
Juan Santamaría Airport Car Rental
Renting a car at Juan Santamaría Airport is very easy. Car rental counters are located on the left side of the Arrivals hall inside the terminal. You will see the rental car offices after collecting your luggage. International companies such as Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Economy, Hertz, and National, as well as local companies, provide services inside the terminal. After completing your car rental process and receiving your keys, you must proceed to the parking lot where your vehicle is located. The parking lot is within walking distance of the terminal.
A 12% tax surcharge is added to the rental fee at Juan Santamaría Airport during the car rental process. If you do not wish to pay this fee, you can rent your car from the rental companies’ city offices located outside the terminal. A passport, driver’s license, and credit card are required to rent a car. You must also pay the mandatory local insurance fee, which is not included in the car rental agreement in Costa Rica.
There are plenty of places to explore by car in San José and the surrounding area. Upon exiting the airport, head toward the General Cañas Highway and reach Poás Volcano National Park. This journey takes approximately 50 minutes. On this road, which passes through a forest corridor, you’ll witness Costa Rica’s natural wonders. City traffic is particularly heavy between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. If possible, avoid driving during these hours.
Juan Santamaría Airport VIP Lounge
There are two VIP Lounges at Juan Santamaría Airport. Both lounges are located on the departures level of the Main Terminal, past security and passport control.
The VIP Lounge Costa Rica is located past passport control, turning right toward Gate 18. It is open daily from 4:30 AM to 8:00 PM. This lounge also serves as SJO’s Star Alliance Gold Lounge. Air Canada Business Class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members may use this lounge. Inside, a buffet of snacks, gallo pinto, plantain chips, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages is served. This VIP Lounge can get extremely crowded during peak seasons.
The VIP Santamaría Lounge is located near Gate 5. This lounge is open from 4:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Inside, there are work desks, a printer, and workstations. Inside, empanadas, tropical fruits, local Costa Rican beers, house wines, and agua dulce are served.
For both lounges, a Priority Pass, Dragon Pass, or Mastercard Airport Experiences membership is required.
Hotels near Juan Santamaría Airport
There are no hotels inside the terminal building at Juan Santamaría Airport. Since the airport is located in Alajuela, the closest hotels are also in Alajuela.
The Holiday Inn Express San José Costa Rica Airport is approximately 2 km from the airport. This hotel is located within Plaza Los Mangos in Rio Segundo, Alajuela. The hotel offers a 24-hour complimentary airport shuttle service. The shuttle departs from the arrivals exit of the terminal. Be sure to call the hotel before your travel date to confirm the shuttle schedule. Breakfast is included in the price.
Courtyard by Marriott San José Airport Alajuela is situated on Francisco J. Orlich Road in Rio Segundo. This hotel is approximately a 5- to 10-minute drive from Juan Santamaría Airport. The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, a 24-hour fitness center, and the Centro Restaurant. Additionally, the hotel offers a business center and meeting rooms.
Hotel Mango Airport is a 2-minute drive from Juan Santamaría Airport. This hotel is located in Rio Segundo. The hotel offers a 24-hour free airport shuttle service. The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant, and a paid breakfast service served daily from 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM.
Juan Santamaría Airport Location
Juan Santamaría Airport Address: Alajuela Province, Río Segundo, Costa Rica.
Juan Santamaría Airport IATA: SJO.
Juan Santamaría Airport ICAO: MROC.
Satellite view of Juan Santamaría Airport. Click to enlarge
Juan Santamaría Airport destination map (March 2026). Click to enlarge